This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Working Families Party’s State Committee Meeting, representing Syracuse alongside a powerhouse delegation that included City Auditor Alex Marion, future Common Councilor Hanah Ehrenreich, and future Onondaga County Legislator Nicole Watts. We were also joined by former County Legislator Monica Williams, Community Activist Agnes McCray and longtime WFP local leader Barry Lentz.
It was an inspiring gathering of organizers, electeds, and community leaders from all corners of New York. I had the honor of introducing Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens as one of the weekend’s featured speakers, a proud moment for our city and a recognition of the kind of leadership we bring to the table.
Throughout the weekend, we heard from leaders who aren’t afraid to speak plainly and stand firmly. New York Attorney General Tish James reminded us what it looks like to wield power with purpose. Soon-to-be NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke at length, but one part of his speech really stuck with me.
He talked about messaging, and how he makes a point to be so clear that even the people who don’t support him know exactly where he stands on the issues that matter to them.
That kind of clarity and consistency is something we need more of in politics at all levels. People deserve to know who you are and what you believe. No guessing. No double talk. It’s something I’m working hard to emulate, and like most things, it’s always a work in progress.
While many attendees used the weekend to network and mingle, as a member of the Regional Advisory Council in Syracuse, I was invited to stay for the work. During the committee’s strategy session, we heard from Stacey Davis Gates, a fierce organizer and labor leader from Chicago. She reminded us that as progressives, and especially as members of the Working Families Party, we don’t need to beg for permission to lead. We need to own our power.
Too often, we find ourselves seeking validation from institutions and insiders who will never recognize our worth, no matter how many elections we win or how many policies we pass.
That message hit home for me.
Here in Syracuse, we hear it all the time. Local Democratic insiders act confused about the things we’re fighting for. They say our demands are new or unrealistic, as if Good Cause Eviction hasn’t been established law in our neighboring state of New Jersey for decades. As if “a Democratic Committee that meets monthly” for all is some kind of foreign criminal concept. They pretend not to understand because it’s easier than admitting they’ve ignored these issues for years.
The truth is they don’t get to define what’s possible anymore. The coalition we’re building is bigger than them, louder than them, and more focused than them.
That’s why meetings like this one matter. They’re not just about speeches or slogans. They’re about coming together, building strategy, and reminding ourselves that we’re not alone.
Thank you to the New York Working Families Party for hosting a successful and energizing event. Thank you to BRIC for providing the space, and thank you to everyone who came out this weekend to send the message that stayed with me.
There are people across the state, across the country, who are just as committed as I am to changing our communities for the many, not the few.
